Key questions to be answered by the investigation into Donegal complaints

Some of the questions to be asked in by the investigation into the Donegal complaints.

Some of the questions to be asked in by the investigation into the Donegal complaints.

Why was the initial investigation of Richie Barron's death so inept? The scene of death was not preserved and the State Pathologist was not called. To this day nobody can be sure whether he died as a result of a hit-and-run or an assault.

What prompted the gardaí to launch a murder investigation some weeks later and arrest members of the McBrearty family? Mr Frank McBrearty senior was taken to hospital during the interrogation and Ms Roisin McConnell, who is married to a cousin of the McBrearty's, is alleged to have had a nervous breakdown as a result of the treatment.

How did a signed statement, allegedly made by Frank McBrearty junior, come into existence? Mr McBrearty denies strenuously ever making any confession admitting the killing of Mr Barron. If gardaí believed it was genuine, why did they never act on it and charge him?

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How did it happen that some 180 summonses for licensing, traffic and public order offences mount up against the McBreartys? After many delays in the district court, they were all dropped by the DPP without explanation.

Why was a request for an order to exhume the body of Richie Barron, made in October 1997 to the Department of Justice, subsequently withdrawn? Mr Barron's body was finally exhumed in July 2001 to allow a second autopsy to be carried out despite his family giving permission for the exhumation years earlier.

In the largest internal investigation in the history of the Garda Síochána into allegations of misconduct, can it be that only one sergeant, charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, and five civilians, charged with making false statements, have a case to answer?